Production Management Apprentice

Olney Theatre Center Apprenticeship position available

Start date: asap         End date: September 1st 2024

Production Manager/Crew Swing Apprentice job description:
The Production Management Apprentice works as a member of the Production office team with the Production Manager to ensure all Production Management needs are met in an efficient, timely, and professional manner. This apprentice assists in the daily operations of the Production Office, including receiving and processing purchase orders and check request forms, as well as managing production calendars, databases, policies, and files. 

This individual also assists and shadows the Production Manager in meetings with production and creative personnel. Additional responsibilities include crew swing – serves as the cover for when those on a production crew are out due to illness, injury or advance notice of outage and serving as an emergency contact on campus. The Production Management Apprentice will be able to develop relationships with all the shops on campus and have the opportunity to work with other industry professionals like designers, directors, and technicians. They are often privy to conversations with higher-level staff members and get inside information about important decisions affecting the whole organization.

Candidates should be able to multi-task and establish priorities, be detail-oriented, have a valid driver's license, and be familiar with Microsoft Office and Google Drive. Excellent organization and interpersonal skills are a must. They should be comfortable completing tasks both alone and as part of a team. This position is appropriate for those working toward careers as Production Managers and General Managers.

As an Olney Theatre Center Apprentice you will…

• Live and work in a vibrant artistic community for a full season.
• Receive on-site dormitory-style housing at no cost (includes a shared bedroom, bath, common area, and kitchen).
• Take advantage of the Washington, DC metro area theatre scene, one of the nation’s largest theatre markets.
• Develop marketable skills and create contacts for future employment.
• Benefit from working directly with the resident staff, in addition to over 300 visiting professional artists.
• Participate in bi-monthly professional development classes with various staff members and industry professionals at Olney Theatre Center.
• Receive complimentary tickets to Olney Theatre Center productions and many other DC area shows.
• Have shared use of company vehicles and free parking (also free for personal vehicles). Olney Theatre pays for gas and tolls for company cars for local area use.
• Complete a capstone project demonstrating what they’ve learned at the end of the apprenticeship.
• Earn $225 weekly stipend.

Olney Theatre Center is committed to training the next generation of theatre makers and providing these training opportunities to individuals of all backgrounds and identities. Every year, apprentices live on campus and train under our professional full-time staff (many of whom are apprentice alumni!) with key responsibilities in nearly every single department. Our apprenticeships are year-long, entry-level, full-time job positions where individuals forge connections within the theatre community, learn practical and professional skills, and get hands-on, real-world experience to build resumes and portfolios. 

Our program offers a space for early-career theatre artists to learn and work alongside professional technicians and administrators and participate in world-class productions. By the end of the apprenticeship year, we want our apprentices to feel confident applying to job opportunities in their chosen career tracks that they didn’t feel confident applying for prior to joining us. Our goal is to be excited to recommend our graduating apprentice class for future job opportunities.

How to Apply:

Submit materials to apprenticeships@olneytheatre.org. What materials are appropriate? Standard materials often include a resume, cover letter, and three references (just contact info).  Additionally, some people like to include links to portfolios or writing samples. Some people like to send full letters of reference; that's great too. Most importantly, we want you to let us know: (1) who you are; and (2) why you want to spend a year learning and working with us. So submit what you think will best tell us that.